MBLawson_C206_Task1
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C206 Task 1 Mary Beth Lawson Western Governors University Dr. Steven Argiento March 25, 2024
1 A. Select a nonfictional leader who you feel has exhibited exemplary ethical conduct: Having recently rewatched Schindler’s List with my own children and engaging in a philosophical discussion regarding his actions, I selected Oskar Schindler as a leader who has exhibited exemplary ethical conduct. Oskar Schindler was a German businessman who exhibited ethical and moral traits during World War II, that had his actions been made known to the Nazi government, would have cost him his own life. His efforts subverted the governmental directives and saved the lives of over 1000 Jewish individuals during the Holocaust (Schwartz & Comer, 2014). A1. Discuss two ethical traits your chosen leader has demonstrated: His actions exemplify two prominent ethical traits: compassion and moral courage
, both of which he exhibited during a time of immense adversity that very few have historical had to face and that most of those around him choose to ignore as an act of self-preservation or worse, actively engaged in horrific acts. Compassion:
His display of compassion for an entire group of people being systematically murdered resulted in his commitment to enacting a plan of action that was in direct violation of governmental orders. He utilized his influence and connections as a business leader to implement his plan and did so at his own expense. He recognized the inherent worth and dignity of every human being, regardless of their ethnicity or background and in a time when dehumanization of Jews was rampant, Schindler treated them as fellow human beings deserving of respect and kindness and took action to help them during their time of persecution. His actions included working to alleviate their suffering by meeting their basic needs, something that they were being denied in concentration and labor camps, and by doing so gave them hope for the future although it was uncertain what that future would hold. The cost of this compassion was
2 that he was constantly in danger with his own life and the lives of those under him at risk where his true intentions to be uncovered. Moral Courage
:
Another prominent ethical trait displayed by Oskar Schindler is moral courage. Moral courage involves the willingness to stand up for what is right, even in the face of significant personal risk or societal pressure. A leader’s actions during this time will generally benefit others but not necessarily themselves, in fact they may be punished for their actions (Ungvarsky, 2023). Schindler exhibited this trait by defying the Nazi regime and using his position and resources to save Jewish lives. His moral courage was brough to action when he decided to establish and operate an enamelware and ammunitions factory in Krakow, Poland, which served as a cover for his rescue operation. He used his connections with Nazi officials to secure the release of Jewish workers from concentration camps and then placed them in his factory. This act required extreme bravery, as any suspicion of his true intentions could have resulted in his arrest or execution. Schindler also used his charm, charisma, and persuasion to influence Nazi officers and bureaucrats, convincing them of the importance of his factory and the need to retain his Jewish workforce. He even spent his own money to bribe officials and ensure the safety of his workers. These actions demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the cause, even when faced with life-threatening consequences. His moral courage is also demonstrated by his decision to no longer profit from nor exploit Jewish labor but instead to become a humanitarian dedicated to saving lives. Although he displayed incredibly compassion and moral courage, this is not to say that Oskar Schindler was without fault or that he always engaged in ethical & moral activities. In fact, in the beginning he was willing to use the sacrifices of the Jews for his own financial gains. However, in that process he was exposed to actions and atrocities that forced him to confront his
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3 own actions and contributions to their suffering and then make an ethical/moral choice--
fortunately for those he was able to save he displayed the immense moral courage necessary to do so and adjusted his actions in accordance with his personal growth. A2. Explain how your chosen leader has exhibited ethical conduct:
Oskar Schindler's ethical conduct during the Holocaust was characterized by his consistent and selfless actions to protect Jewish lives. His ethical conduct can be summarized through several key actions and decisions: Providing Shelter:
Schindler provided a safe haven for Jewish workers in his factory, shielding them from the horrors of concentration camps and labor camps. This action, although covert, was a clear demonstration of his ethical commitment. Resisting Dehumanization:
Schindler refused to dehumanize the Jewish workers in his factory. He treated them with respect and dignity, even in the face of societal pressure to do otherwise. Risking His Own Safety
:
Schindler risked his own life by defying the Nazi regime's policies and bribing officials to protect his workers. He faced constant danger, yet he persevered in his mission. Sacrificing His Wealth:
To save as many lives as possible, Schindler spent his entire fortune on bribes and expenses related to the rescue operation. His willingness to sacrifice his wealth underscores his ethical commitment. Personal Growth:
Schindler's personal transformation from a profit-driven businessman to a humanitarian exemplifies ethical conduct. He acknowledged his own past mistakes and actively sought to rectify them. In conclusion, Oskar Schindler's actions during the Holocaust exemplify two critical ethical traits: compassion and moral courage. His deep compassion for the suffering of others led him to recognize the humanity in those persecuted by the Nazis and take extraordinary steps to protect them. His moral courage enabled him to stand up against the Nazi regime, risk his own life, and defy societal norms to save Jewish lives. Schindler's ethical conduct, characterized by
4 selflessness and a commitment to doing what is right, serves as an enduring example of the extraordinary good that can be achieved in the face of profound evil. His story is a testament to the power of human kindness and the potential for individuals to make a difference by acting ethically, even in the darkest of times. B. Compare the deontological and consequentialist perspectives and how each perspective would approach the dilemma from the scenario. In the provided scenario, the ethical dilemma is the conflict between the responsibility as a sales representative to inform potential users of the known risks of the device and the legal contract they have signed with the company in the form of the nondisclosure agreement (NDA). If actions were pursued from a deontological perspective
, the sales rep would prioritize their duty to potential patients and be compelled to provide them with all the information to allow them to make a fully informed decision. By exposing the potential risks with the artificial knee and respecting each patient’s right to make informed decisions, the sales rep would be fulfilling their moral duty and as Kant argues “not merely treating a person as a means to an end” (The Ethics Center, 2021). This is because the deontological perspective emphasis duty, principles, moral rules, and the inherent dignity of all humans (The Ethics Center, 2021). The deontological perspective bases actions on what is inherently right or wrong, without regard to the potential consequences to self or the company so a sales rep with the deontological perspective would likely decide to share the known side effects instead of honoring the NDA because “it is the right thing to do”. This is in direct contrast to the consequentialist perspective
, in which the actions of the sales rep would be decided upon by weighing the consequences of each action to achieve the best possible outcome with the least amount of harm overall. For the given scenario, the sales rep would evaluate the consequences of each possible action to assess the risks and benefits of each.
5 This would include evaluating the consequences of revealing the potential risk i.e., the severity and probability of patients experiencing harmful side effects against the impact on all parties -- the patients, the company, and society as a whole. The consequentialist perspective dictates decisions based on “achieving the greatest possible benefit for the largest number of people”. (The Ethic Center, 2023). With this understanding of the consequentialist perspective, it would be logical to expect a sales rep with this perspective to honor the NDA as the rational would be that that the benefits of making the device available would positively serve a larger number of people by providing reduced healing time at a reduced cost. In summary, while both deontological and consequentialist perspectives offer valuable insights into ethical decision-making, they may lead to different conclusions in the scenario presented. Deontologists prioritize moral duties and principles, while consequentialists focus on the consequences of actions. The perspective from which the sales rep approaches their decision will dictate if their final decision is to honor the NDA or to break that agreement. C. Identify and explain which level of cognitive moral development (i.e., preconventional, conventional, or postconventional) is represented in the scenario for each of the following questions: Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of moral development states that humans move through six stages of moral reasoning from birth to becoming an adult, these six stages are then categorized into three broad categories of moral reasoning. The first category is the pre-conventional stage which includes action that avoid punishment and produce rewards. The second stage is conventional which considers social rules and societal expectations when determining acceptable actions. The third stage is post-conventional and is where actions are taken based not only on social contracts but having an understanding of universal ethics and engaging in moral activity. (McLeod, 2024)
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6
Which action would most likely serve the greater good in society? The level of cognitive development for this question is post-conventional. The question requires consideration of the larger societal impact of the action/decision being made, how it fits within a universal ethics paradigm, and the long-term implications of the action/decision, thus making it a question formed in the post-conventional stage.
If I reveal this information, will I get into trouble and possibly even lose my job? The level of cognitive development for this question is pre-conventional as it focuses only on the individual impact in a reward/punishment context without considering the impact on others.
Which action best aligns with my long-held belief in the principle of justice? The level of cognitive development for this question is post-conventional. This question is attempting to align one’s moral compass and ethic guidance with the larger concept of what is just. This broad view and introspective process puts this as post-conventional stage question.
What do the laws say, and what would a law-abiding citizen do? This question is at the conventional stage of development. It is not about the reward or punishment but is about the societal rules, laws, and expectations to uphold those.
If I keep quiet, will I get some sort of reward? The level of cognitive development for this question is pre-conventional, the question is centered on solely on self and the benefits to self without regard to the impact on others, if it fits withing social expectations, or if it is morally or ethically in alignment with one’s belief system. D1. Explain your preferred ethical lens, relevant to the ELI: My preferred ethical lens according to the ELI assessment is the Responsibilities Lens. This lens indicates that I value rational and making informed decisions that are respectful of my own autonomy and that of others. I incorporate the thoughts and opinions of others with my own lived experience to determine my core principles and actions and I am comfortable if in doing so, others do not agree with me. Because of this perspective I value the freedom of others and respect their autonomy to define their own truth, with the expectation that in doing so we do not bring harm to others.
7 D1A. Analyze whether you have the same preferred lens in different settings: This lens is based in the deontological perspective, and I feel this is how I approach my life in all settings—making rationally based decisions, giving value to the rights of all persons, and having a strong innate sense of justice that guides me but may not always fit with the societal expectations/norms. The rational portion of this lens allows me to view various situations more objectively that some and evaluate a situation or decision based on factual information and not on emotions or personal experience. The valuing of autonomy allows me to listen and integrate the variety of perspectives of those with whom I engage into my decision-making process. This is really the essence of who I am as a human being and I demonstrate my desire to live a life in which I engage in rational and just actions in my work as a team leader, in personal interactions, and in social settings. D2. Explain one of your primary values and one classical virtue from the ELI: A primary value indicated on my ELI is rationality. This indicates that tend to apply logic and rational when making decisions. This is not to say that I don’t consider emotions, but I use those emotions to inform the process and weigh them as part of the larger picture, I do not act on emotion alone. This also means that I tend to take time to weigh the issue at hand and I am not prone to making impulsive decisions where there is the potential for long-term or negative impacts. My classical virtue from the ELI is prudence which is defined as “making wise decisions in everyday affairs”. I recognize this virtue in my approach to problem solving and personnel related matters in my work. By removing big or negative emotions from the equation I can make an empathic yet rational decision regarding the best course of action for the problem at hand. My history of doing so has created a work environment where my supervisor and coworkers are accustomed to me asking for a moment to think through an issue but when I then propose
8 possible solutions or a final decision, they are respectful of those as they are confident that I have thought through the various consequences of each possible action and have come to a determination that acknowledges the impacts to all stakeholders, is not being driven solely by an emotional response, and can be defended by logical arguments, backed up by data, supports the duty of our organization, and is empathetic to our personnel. D2A. Compare your primary value from part D2 with one of your own self-identified or personal values. Then compare your classical virtue from part D2 with a different self-
identified or personal value. One of my personal values is integrity, meaning I value honesty, sincerity, and moral principles in our actions. This value is directly connected to rationality in that both require consistency in acting in accordance with my values and moral beliefs. My rationality value seeks me to make decisions based logically on factual information and my integrity strives to ensure that my actions are in alignment with my beliefs. One of my other personal values, and one of my top 5 Clifton Strengths, is that I am deliberate in my actions. When compared to my classical virtue of prudence, it makes sense that I have identified that as a personal value. To be prudent requires being deliberate. That in order to reach an informed decision or actions are taken that the potential consequences of various scenarios have been weighed and any risks mitigated to reduce any potential harm. Both values are a direct reflection of my lens type of responsibility in that both avoid impulsive decisions or behavior that could be construed as reckless. D3. Describe one of the following from your ELI: blind spot, risk, double standard, vice: My blind spot according to the ELI, is that I can be ethically unaware, meaning I believe good intentions can be used to justify the means even if it disregards the input of others. This can
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9 result in me becoming legalistic and with the taking on of more responsibility can lead to me losing sight of the purpose and impact. D3A. Discuss two steps you can take to mitigate the blind spot, risk, double standard, or vice described in part D3 in order to make better ethical decisions in the future: Two steps that I can take to mitigate my blind spot are engaging in self-reflection
and seeking feedback/perspective of others
. By self-reflecting on what is motivating my actions and objectively considering if those actions align with ethical principles, I can ensure that I am addressing biases that may be influencing my actions. Being self-reflective will ensure that I am acting ethically, acknowledging the source of my motivation, and that I am considering the impact my actions will have on others. Seeking feedback and the perspective of others will allow me to gather important information to add to my decision-making process by seeing the issue at hand from different perspectives and life experiences. This process requires that I actively seek out those perspectives to help broaden my understanding and awareness and thus make a more informed decision. D4. Discuss how the information from your ELI could be applied to an ethical situation in the workplace. Moving forward, I will be conscious of utilizing the information obtained from the Ethical Lens Inventory to approach ethical situations in my workplace in a way that ensures I am cognizant of the advantages and the shortcomings of my preferred lens of Responsibility. By being true to my desire to make rational and informed decisions that value the autonomy of all stakeholders, I can be a more effective leader. It will require that I am aware that one cannot always be completely rational and that when I am critiquing the decisions of others and myself that I give grace by acknowledging that while we aim to be perfectly rational, that is not possible for us a humans, our emotions and experiences sometimes lead us to make decisions or take
10 actions that may appear to be inconsistent with our beliefs. I will also consciously mitigate by blind spot by ensuring that I take time during my deliberation to seek out the perspectives and insights of my team members, this will allow me to make better informed decisions and also show them that I value their input and experiences. E. ELI results submitted as separate document per the rubric.
11 References: Mcleod, S. (2024, January 17). Kohlberg’s stages of moral development
. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/kohlberg.html Schwartz, M., & Comer, D. R. (2014). The Difficulty of Being a Moral Exemplar When a Moral Exemplar is Needed Most: The Case of Oskar Schindler (Vol. 10). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1529-2096(2013)0000010011 The Ethics Center. (2023, October 26). Ethics explainer: What is consequentialism?
. THE ETHICS CENTRE. https://ethics.org.au/ethics-explainer-consequentialism/ The Ethics Center. (2021, December 13). Ethics explainer: What is deontology?
. THE ETHICS CENTRE. https://ethics.org.au/ethics-explainer-deontology/ Ungvarsky, J. (2023). Moral courage. Salem Press Encyclopedia.
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